Systems and methods for pre-touch and true touch

Abstract

Systems and methods for pre-touch and true touch are disclosed. For example, in one described system for pre-touch and true touch includes a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect a user interaction and transmit a first interface signal based at least in part on the user interaction. The system also includes a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive the first interface signal and determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal. The processor is further configured to preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The system also includes a cache in communication with the processor and configured to store the preloaded haptic signal for a time period and then transmit the haptic signal and a haptic effect generator in communication with the cache and configured to receive the haptic signal from the cache and, in response, output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a touch-sensitive interface configured to:
 detect a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from the touch-sensitive interface; 
 transmit a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction; 
 detect a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface; and 
 transmit a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction; 
 
 a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface and configured to:
 receive the first interface signal; 
 determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal; and 
 preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect; 
 
 a cache in communication with the processor and configured to store the preloaded haptic signal and transmit the haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and 
 a haptic effect generator in communication with the cache and configured to receive the haptic signal from the cache and output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive interface comprises a touch-screen. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cache comprises a memory. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cache comprises one of: a capacitor, an inductor, or a battery. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cache comprises a flywheel, and 
 storing the haptic signal comprises rotating the flywheel. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a flywheel brake and wherein outputting the haptic effect comprises slowing the flywheel. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a user interaction above a surface of the touch-sensitive interface and transmit a sensor signal to the processor corresponding to the user interaction. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises one of: an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, or a motion sensor. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to contain the processor, the cache, and the haptic effect generator. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a handheld device housing. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the haptic effect generator is configured to output the haptic effect onto the housing. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 . 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface. 
     
     
       14. A method for generating a haptic effect comprising:
 detecting a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from a touch-sensitive interface; 
 transmitting a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction; 
 detecting a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface; 
 transmitting a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction; 
 determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal; 
 preloading a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a cache configured to store the haptic signal; 
 transmitting the haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and 
 outputting a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the haptic signal is transmitted to the haptic effect generator after receiving the second interface signal. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 . 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface. 
     
     
       18. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
 detect a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from a touch-sensitive interface; 
 transmit a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction; 
 detect a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface; 
 transmit a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the interface signal; 
 preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a cache configured to store the haptic signal; and 
 transmit the stored haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and 
 output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 . 
     
     
       20. The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface.